Apparatus for cutting metal into sections



Aug. 6, 15940. H. l. MORRIS APPARATUS FOR dUTTING METAL INTO SECTIONS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 11, 1 937 git ' Aug.6, 1940. H. 1. MORRIS 2.209,995

. APPARATUS FOR CUTTING METAL INTO SECTIONS Filed March 11, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 H. l. MORRIS Filed March 11, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTQR,

BY 9 flow ATTORNEY.

Aug. 6, 1940.

APPARATUS FOR durum METAL 11m SECTIONS Aug. 6, 1940. 1.1),, MORRIS 2209,995-

APPARATUS FOR- CUTTING METAL INTO SECTIONS Filed March 11;, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 imvm A mRm-v Patented Aug. 6, 1940 PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR CUTTING INTO SECTIONS Howard I. Morris, Lakewood, Ohio, assignorto The Yoder Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application March 11,1937, Serial No. 130,322

8 Claims. (CI. 2969) This invention relates to a machine for automatically cutting material into predetermined lengths, more particularly a machine adapted to be related to a continuously operating material 5 forming machine and operated conjointly therewith so that the formed material is continuously supplied and while in movement may be cut into lengths and discharged to avoid reshandling and permit ready stacking. For purposes of illustra- 10 tion, the formed material is shown as consisting of a pipe which may be of any desired diameter, but in the use of the term pipe it is for purposes of description and not as a limitation of the invention. a

'16- Oneobject of the invention is to provide an improved machine of this character wherein provision is made to maintain a constant speed between the cut-ofi mechanism and the formed material.

: Another object of the invention is to provide an improved machine of this character wherein adjustable mechanism is provided for synchronizing the movement of the cut-off mechanism with diifering speeds of the formedv material,

25 whereby the latter may be accurately cut into predetermined lengths.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved machine of this type wherein the cut-off mechanism is arranged to move with the :0 material and automatically connect itself to the formed material and automatically disconnect itself therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved machine for cutting material into 35 predetermined lengths wherein provision is made to automatically compensate for any difference in the speed of the material and that of the support for the cut-ofi without stopping the movement of the material, the cut-oil or the support 40 for the'latter.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which my invention relates from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,

45 wherein Fig. l is a side elevation showing a portion of a pipe forming apparatus and a machine embodying my invention. 50 Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig, 2a is a fragmentary section on the line Za-Za of Fig. 2.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation looking at parts from the remote side of Fig. 1, on the 55 line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section. on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section on the line 66 5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 1-1 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of parts shown in Fig. 7.- Fig, 8a is a fragmentary plan view on the line Ila-8a of Fig. 1. 10

Fig. 8b is a detail view of parts shown in Fig. 1,

enlarged,

In the drawings, l' indicates a portion of a machine for continuously forming material into a predetermined cross sectional shape for delivl6 ery to a cut-off mechanism indicated as an entirety at 2. The pre-formed material herein chosen for illustration consists of pipe A which is fed forwardly by one or more pairs of feed rolls 3, 3', to and through a mechanism 4 which may be of a type to size the pipe, to reduce its diameter or to eliminate any tendency of the pipe to spring laterally; also, the pipe as delivered may be of any desired form, that is, its edges may be connected (welded or interlocked) or lapped or related edge to edge ready for welding.

Of the cut-oifmachine 2; 5' indicates a suitable frame having guides 6 for a slide 1 on which are mounted standards 8. The standards 8 support the -opposite ends of an electric motor 9. so The end walls of the motor casing are machined to form bearings for the inner ends of arms I0 formed integrally with a housing I I, whereby the latter may swing about an axis, preferably the axis of the motor shaft. The housing I I is formed with suitable bearings for a shaft II, on one end of which is mounted a saw or cutter l3 and on the other end of which is a power element I4, such as a pulley or sprocket for an endless device I 5 arrangedto engage a like power element I6 40 on the extended end'of the motor shaft, whereby the cutter is driven at any desired speed. The housing II andparts carried thereby are normally held in an inoperative position by a spring l1 fixed at one end to an arm l8 mounted on the motor casing and connected at its other end to a hook or like device -I 9 carried by the housing H, the arm l8 having an extension l8 (see Fig. 3) to limit the movement of the housing H under the influence of the spring l1. Movement of the housing in the opposite direction, which movement serves to cause engagement of the cutter with the material to sever a predetermined length thereof from the remaining portion as the material feeds forwardly,'is effected by means of a cam and cam engaging element which co-act in the movement of the slide 1 as it moves with the material A, as later set forth. The cam and element are mounted on the frame 5 and one of the arms l9, respectively, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3; the cam being indicated at 29 and the engaging element (which may consist of a roller) being indicated at 2|. The cam 29 is suitably fixed to a plate 22 which in turn is adjustably mounted on the adjacent side wall of the frame 5 for vertical adjustment as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, whereby the cam 29 may be raised or lowered to vary the movement of the housing and cutter according to the width or diameter of the material to be cut. The roller 2| is mounted on the outer end of an arm 23, its inner end having a hub loosely mounted on a stud shaft supported on the extended wall 23a of the adjacent arm l9. The arm 23 is provided with a lug 24 which engages with an abutment 25 to hold the arm against swinging movement during engagement of the roller 2| with the cam 29 in the forward movement of the slide 1, the arm being free to swing in the opposite direction to ride the cam 29 in the return movement of the slide I.

The slide 1 is reciprocated in the guides 6. that is, moved with the material. a predetermined distance and then returned or moved back to its starting position by the following mechanism: 26 indicates a shaft mounted in suitable bearings 21 and carrying at its outer end a sprocket 28 engaged by a chain 29, which is continuously driven by a sprocket 39 preferably fixed to the shaft for one of the rolls 3', the latter as well as other parts of the mechanism I being driven by suitable means (not shown). Thedriving connection with one driven element of the forming machine enables the movement of the slide I to be synchronized with the movement of the material A. The inner end of the shaft 26 is connected to one element 3| of a one-revolution clutch 32, which is stopped and released by a dog 33, fixed to a rock shaft 34, supported on the frame 5 (see Fig. 6) and operated in the manner later set forth. The clutch 32 may be of any well-known construction. The driven element of the clutch 32 is fixed to a shaft 35, preferably mounted similarly to the shaft .26 and carrying on its outer end a sprocket 36. The sprocket 36 is engaged by a chain 31 which engages a sprocket 38 on a shaft 39 to drive the latter. The gear ratio between the sprocket 36 and sprocket 38 is such that the formermakes two revolutions to one'of the sprocket 38, but this ratio may be changed if desired. The shaft 39 is mounted in suitable bearings supported in a sleeve or shell 89a, which is mounted on the adjacent portion of the frame 5. The sprocket '38 has fixed to it a brake drum 49, engaged by a band 4|, one end of which is fixed to a pin 42 projecting from the adjacent side of the frame 5.- The opposite end of the bandis connected to a rod 43 having an adjustable head 44 (preferably consisting of nuts threadedon the outer end of the rod 43) which serves as an abutment for one end 'of a coiled spring 45, the other end of the spring normally bearing against a link 45 suitable pivoted at one end, so that when its opposite end is swung outwardly the' link operates through the spring to yieldingly apply the brake band 4| to the drum 49. The link 46 is operated and controlled to apply and release the brake band 4| by a cam 49a on the drum 49, as later set forth. The movement of the link 46 under the influence of the spring 45 is limited by a suitable stop, which may consist of the pin 42. A screw 41 is threaded through an opening in the link 46 in position to engage the pin 42, to provide an adjustable relation between the link and the stop. Fixed to the inner end of the shaft 39 is a disk 48 which through a mechanism, indicated as an entirety at 49, connected to the slide 1, operates to move the latter throughout its movement in either direction at substantially a constant speed, the elements of the mechanism 49 being so connected to the disk 48 and each other that'the speed of the slide throughout its forward movement is equal to that of the pipe A. The mechanism 49 preferably consists of a compound linkage comprising the following: 59 indicates a main drive link pivoted at one end to one side of the disk 48 eccentrically of its axis, the opposite side of the disk being formed with a continuous, irregular shaped-cam groove 48a for a purpose later set forth. The opposite end of the link 59 is pivoted to a pitman 5|, the latter being pivotally connected at its outer end to a yoke 52 fixed to the bottom of the slide 1. The end of the link 59 that is pivotally connected to the pitman 5| is bifurcated so as to straddle the latter, the bifurcated ends engaging pivot pins 59a which project from the opposite sides of a block 53 adjustably mounted on the pitman 5|, as later set forth, whereby the connection be tween the link 59 and pitman 5| may be varied to increase or decrease the rate of movement of the pitman in accordance with the rate of movement of the pipe A. The inner end of the pitman 5| is pivotally connected at 5|a to one end of a link 54. The opposite end of the link 54 is pivotally connected to one arm 55a of a lever 55, which is fulcrumed on the frame 5, its other arm 55b having at its free end a lateral projection, such as a stud shaft loosely supporting a roller 56 which traverses the cam groove 48a as the disk 48 rotates, to operate the lever about its fulcrum. As shown in Fig. 4, the cam groove is irregular in shape, the effect of which is to vary the movement of the lever 55 and thus control the pitman 5| during its movement by the drive link 59. As shown in Fig. 2, the lever arm 55a consists of diverging portions 55:: to provide a pivotal support for the lever on the side walls of the frame 5, whereas the arm 55b is formed integral with one of said lever portions for providing an operative driving connection with the disk 48 as above set forth. From the foregoing description it will be seen that the link 59 serves to swing the pitman 5| about the pivot 5|a, whereas the lever arm 55a, which is operated simultaneously with the link 59, and link 54 serve to change the position of the pivot 5|a with respect to the axis. of the pivot pins 59a between the link 59 and pitman 5| the movement of the arm 55a about its fulcrum being controlled by the irregular shape of the cam groove 48a in cooperative relation with the movement of the link 59 and the movement of the ing movement, and a bodily movement which movements are provided for and permitted bythe link 54 and pivotal connections between the parts above referred to. The pitman is formed intermediate its ends with a longitudinal opening 61 the side walls of which form guides for. the block 88 when the latter is adjusted. The block 88 is moved endwise of the opening 51 by a screw 58. which is threaded through an opening formed in the .block and rotatably supported at its opposite ends against endwise movement in the end walls of the opening,so that by rotating the screw 58 the block 53 may be adjusted in either direction. the eifect of which is to in-. crease or decrease the rate of movement of the slide I, according to the direction of adjustment 7 of the block, while maintaining its speed constant or uniform.

88 indicates as an entirety means for automatically clamping the slide 1 to the work A and automatically releasing it from the work in the forward movement thereof; the. clamping being eilected substantially at the start of the slide in' upper jaw Ha being secured to an arm 62 which by the rolls 3'.

is pivoted at its inner end on the standard 88. In the illustrated construction the jaws are sub stantially semi-circularand arranged to receive between them the work A as it is fed fbrwardly The arm 62 comprises two sections connected at their outer ends for movement as a unit by a web 83 (see Fig. 8), the sections of the arm being spaced to form between them a slot 82a through which the cutter l8 operates to sever the work A. In this arrangement it will tween the jaws.

be noted that the work A is clamped to the slide at opposite sides of the cutter. The outer side wall of-.the standard 88 is thickened to form a hollow boss 84 in which is fixedly mounted an internally threaded tube 65 forming a nut for a screw 88. The upper end of the screw is pivotaland rotatably connected to the outer end of the arm 62 (as later set forth), so that when, the screw 86 moves endwise, by' a rotary movement thereof,'the arm 82 is swung downwardly to effect a clamping of the jaws against the work A swung pwa d y to release the latter. To effect rotation of the screw 88 I provide on its lower end an arm 81 preferably carrying on its free end a roller 88, arranged ,to engage a cam I]. A spring 6111. connected at one end to a ing l|b on the hub of the arm 61 and adjustably connected .atits other end by means of a screw "c to abracket 61' suitably supported on the slide I, serves normally to maintain the arm 81 in the position shown in Figs; 2a, '7 and 8, in which. position the movable jaw Sin is raised to permit projection or feeding of the work A be- 88 is provided at its opposite ends with cam portions 69a, 68b, which operate to swing the arm I in thefollowing manner: in the forward movement of the slide I, the ,cam portion 680. swings the arm 61 to the position a as shown in Fig. 2a in opposition to the tension of the spring 6111, thereby rotating the screw 88 in the direction to move it downwardly and effect engagement of the jaws with the work A, the cam 68 serving to maintain the arm 81 in this position until, in

the forward movement of the slide I, the roller relative to'these walls.

As shown-in Fig. 2a the cam' 88 rides beyond the cam portion 68b, following which the spring 610 swings the arm 61 to normal position (indicated at b in Fig. 2a), thereby rotating the screw in the opposite direction to,

move it eudwise upwardly and release the jaws 8|, Sla, from the work A. In the return movement of theslide -'I, the roller 68 engages the cam portion 68b and swings the arm 61 to the position 0 (Fig. 2a), to .permit the arm 6 I to ride the cam in the return movement of the slide and be positioned ready for the next forward movement of the slide 1. 1

The pivotal and rotatable connection between the upperend of the screw 68 and outer endof the jaw carrying arm 82 preferably consists of the following: I8 indicates a box or housing integrally connected to the outer end of the arm 62. The bottom wall of the box I8 isformed with an opening II somewhat larger than the up'-' per end portion of the screw 86 so that the latter loosely extends through the opening; the free end of the screw engaging a plate or cover I2 for the box and acting therethrough to raise the arm 62 when the screw 86 is rotated in the direction to move it endwise upwardly. [The end of the screw 88 carries a nut I3 which engages a washer I4 to form a support for one race of anti-friction thrust bearing IS, the other race I being fixed to the end portion of the screw and having a spherical lower wall which engages a correspondingly shaped annulus I6 mounted on the bottom wall of the box Ill. The parts just described are disposed between and in engagement with the bottom wall of the box and its cover I2 so that endwise movement ofthe screw serves to move the arm upwardly and downwardly and also permits the screw to rotate and pivot The slide I is moved forwardly at predeter- -mined intervals dependent upon the length of each section to be severed from the work as the latter feeds forwardly. To'insure this operation, the forward end of the moving work operates a trip mechanism which controls a releasing and resetting mechanism for the operating or driving means for the slide to move it forwardly and rearwardly and the slide in turn effects operation of the clamping Jaws and movement of the cutter as already set forth, sothat each forward end of the work resulting from the severing of the succeeding sections therefrom is eifective to carry out a cutting operation and to cut the work into sections of uniform length. For this pur 'on which is fixed a wing 88 normally disposed in' an inclined position in the path of movement of I the work end, as shown in Fig. 1, and arranged to be operated thereby about the axis of the shaft 19 (clockwise as viewed in Fig.8a) as the work feeds forwardly. The shaft I9 is provided with tends outwardly a distancesubstantially equal to,

that of the angle 11 so that the clamp 82 may be adjusted along the rod corresponding to the adjustment of the plate I8.

- The rod 88 is connected to one arm of a lever 9| pivoted on the frame 5, the other arm of the lever being connected by a link 9| to a rocker 92 fixed to the shaft 34. The function of the link 9| which forms part of the resetting means will be later described. The lever 9| has fixed to it a detent or pawl 93 (a) arranged to engage a notch 93a provided on the free end of the rocker 92 to hold the latter against movement under the influence of a spring 92' connected to the tail of the rocker, with the dog 33 in engagement with the shoulder 33a of the clutch 32, but (b) arranged to disengage or trip the rocker 92 when the rod 88 is moved endwise. Accordingly, when the rod 88 is moved endwise (toward the left in Fig. 1) the rocker 92 is tripped'and under the influence of the spring 92' rotates the shaft 34 which in turn releases the dog 33 from the clutch 32 and permits the later to operate, the clutch in turn serving to drivethe sprockets 35 and 38 and the latter operating through the linkage 49 to move the slide 1 forwardly and rearwardly as already set forth. The spring 92' serves normally to swing the rocker 92 to its operated position but permits it to be re-set by cam operated means consisting of the following: 931: indicates a link connected at one end to the tail of the rocker 92 and connected at its other end to one end of a lever 94 fulcrumed on the frame 5. The opposite end of the lever 94 supports a roller 95, which is engaged and controlled by a cam 95 fixed to the outer wall of the drum 48. The cam 98 is arranged to operate the lever 94 in the return movement of the slide 1 as it approaches the end of its movement, and through the lever 94 and the link 932:, to swing the outer end of the rocker 92 slightly beyond its set position (it being noted that during this operation the dog 33 is riding the concentric portion of the cam 33b) and the rocker 92 in turn, through the link 9|- operates to swing the lever 9| clockwise, as viewed in Fig. l, to thereby cause the detent 93 to swing into operative relation to the notch 93a, and then, following the disengagement of the cam 95 from the roller 95, the spring 92 swings the rocker 92 in the opposite direction thereby effecting a locked relation between detent 93 and rocker 92 with the dog 33 in engagement with the shoulder 33a of the driven clutch element to stop the later. Following the re-setting of the rocker 92 and disengagement of the cam 95 from the roller 95, the brake controlling cam 48a, which is co-ordinately related I to the cam 95, operates the brake 4| to arrest further movement of the shaft 39 and parts operated thereby and to relieve strain on the driving means due to the stopping of the clutch 32.

Due to the fact that the wing 80 is connected through the arm 8| and rod 88, lever 9| and link 9| to the rocker 92, (a) movement of the latter by the cam 95 will swing the wing 88 in the opposite direction (counter-clockwise as viewed in Fig. 8a) beyond its normal position, the effect of which is to discharge the severed section of the work and (b) movement of the rocker 92 under the influence of the spring 92 to its locked or set position will swing the wing 88 to its normal position.

From the foregoing description it will be noted that while the end of the formed material controls the operation of the releasing and re-setting mechanism and through it the operation of the slide, that very little pressure is required to release the rocker 92, so that substantially no strains are imparted to the material and accordingly danger of material which may be of light gauge or because of its specific cross sectional shape, being damaged, distorted or buckled, is eliminated.

83 indicates a sprocket loosely mounted on a shaft carried by a plate 84 and having engagement with the chain 31. The plate 84 is adjustably fixed by bolts 84a to a base 85 suitably mounted on the frame 5 (see Fig. 1). The base 85 is provided with a 'hollow boss which is internally threaded to receive a screw 88. The free end of the screw is rotatably connected to the plate 84 so that by turning the screw, upon the release of the bolts 8411, the plate 84 may be adjusted, such adjustment being for the purpose of taking up slack in the chain 31.

It will-be noted that the cams 20, 69a and 59b are in coordinated relation so that in the forward movement of the slide 1, the work is first clamped between the jaws 8|, 8|a, next, the cutter is operated to sever the work and thereafter the jaws are released from the work.

To those skilled in the art to which my invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest. themselves without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. My description and the disclosures herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

What I claim is:

1. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a support, power means including a clutch and means for continuously supplying work, of a reciprocatable slide mounted on said support, means arranged to be connected to and disconnected from said power means for reciprocating said slide, means for connecting said reciprocating means to said power means and disconnecting it therefrom, the last said means including an element disposed in the path ofmovement of the work and operated thereby to connect said reciprocating means to the driven element of said clutch and elements to disconnect said reciprocating means from the driven element of said clutch and re-set said first mentioned element, means carried by said slide for cutting the work during movement therewith, and means between said slide and said supp rt and operated by the movement of the slide independently of said cutting means, for clamping the work to said slide in advance of the operation of said cutting means.

2. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with power means and means for continuously supplying work, of a reciprocatable slide, means arranged to be connected to and disconnected from said power means for reciprocating said slide, means for connecting said reciprocating means to said power means and disconnecting it therefrom, the last said means including two levers, a link for connecting the levers together, a pawl carried by one lever arranged to have interlocked engagement with the other lever, an element operatively connected to the pawl carrying lever and disposed in the path of movement of the work and operated by the latter to release the pawl from the other lever, a cam on a driven element of said reciprocating means, means connected to said other lever arranged to be operduring movement therewith.

3. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a support, power means including a clutch having an element which is driven thereby and means for continuously supplying material, of a slide mounted to'reciprocate on said support, a rotatable member arranged to be drivingly connected to said driven element and disconnected therefrom, a pitman connected at one end to said slide, connections comprising a crank and linkage each connected to said rotatable member and pitman and co-operating to move said slide at substantially uniform speed with the work, a cutter and power means therefor mounted on said slide, co-acting means between said support and cutter for operating the latter at a predetermined position of the slide in the forward movement thereof, work clamping devices on said slide, co-acting means between said support and said devices for operating said devices in the forward movement of the slide first at a predetermined position of said slide in advance of the operation of the cutter and thereafter at another predetermined position of said slide, and means for connecting said driven element of the clutch to said rotatable member, said means including an element disposed in the path of movement of the work and arranged to be operated thereby.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein one of the said elements between said rotatable member and said pitman is adjustably connected to the latter.

5. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a support, power means including a clutch having an element which is driven thereby and means for continuously supplying material, of a slide mounted to reciprocate on said support, a rotatable member arranged to be drivingly connected to said driven element and disconnected therefrom, a pitman connected at one end to said slide, connections comprising a crank and linkage each connected to said rotatable member and pitman and co-operating to move said slide at substantially uniform speed' with the work, a cutter and power means thereof mounted on said slide, co-acting means between said support and cutter for operating the latter at a predetermined position of the side in the forward movement therefor, work clamping devices on said slide, co-acting means between said support and said devices for operating saiddevices in the forward movement of the slide first at a predetermined position of said slide in advance of the'operation of the cutter and thereafter-at another pr'edetermined'position of said slide, means for connecting said driven element of the clutch to said rotatable member, said means including an operating element disposed in the path of movement of the-work and arranged to be operated thereby, spring tension means connected to said last mentioned connecting means and normally tending to re-set said operating element in normal position, and means controlled by said rotatable member for controlling the return of said operating element under the influence of said spring tension means.

6. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a support, power means including a clutch having an element which is driven thereby and means for continuously supplying material, .of a slide mounted to reciprocate on said sup-, port, a rotatable member arranged to be drivingly connected to said driven element and disconnected therefrom, a pitman connected at one end to said slide, connections comprising a crank and linkage each connected to said rotatable member and pitman and co-operating to move said slide at substantially uniform speed with the work, a cutter and power means therefor mounted on said slide, co-acting means between said support and cutter for operating the latter at a predetermined position of the slide in the forward movement thereof, work clamping devices on said slide, co-acting means between said support and said devices for operating said devices in the forward movement of the slide first at a predetermined position of said slide in advance of the operation of the cutter and thereafter at another predetermined position of. said slide, and means for connecting said driven element of the clutch to said rotatable member, said meansin and means for continuously supplying work, of a reciprocatable slide,'means arranged to boomnected to and disconnected from said power means, for reciprocating said slide, means for connecting said reciprocating means to said power means and disconnecting it therefrom, the last said means including an element disposed in the path of movement of the work and operated thereby to connect said reciprocating means to the driven element of said clutch and elements to disconnect said reciprocating means from the driven element of said clutch and're-set said first mentioned element, and said first mentioned element being arranged, in its re-setting operation, to discharge the severed section of the work.

8. In apparatus of the class described, the combination withpower means, including a clutch, and means for continuously, supplying work, of a reciprocatable slide, a member arranged to be drivingly connected to and disconnected from the' driven element of.said clutch, connections between said member and said slide for reciproeating said slide, means for connecting said memfor controlling the re-setting of said first mentioned element, andmeans carried by said slide for cutting the work during movement therewith.

HOWARD I. MORRIS. 

